Five years after contracting the deadly virus in Liberia, the Christian doctor will serve at Mukinge Mission Hospital in Zambia. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle FORT WORTH, Texas — Dr. Kent Brantly sat on his counselor’s couch and wept. The tears came last summer as the Christian physician visited with Dottie Schulz, a missionary care volunteer with Texas-based Mission Resource Network,which is associated with … Continue reading Ebola survivor Dr. Kent Brantly returning to Africa as medical missionary
“You can’t,” he said, pausing for a moment to gather himself. “You can’t make this stuff up.”
The Los Angeles Angels scored seven first-inning runs Friday night. They finished with 13. Tyler Skaggs’ birthday is on the 13th day of the seventh month, which just so happens to be Saturday.
“I’m speechless,” Trout said. “This is the best way to honor him.”
The Angels honored Skaggs with an emotional ceremony before their first home game since his sudden death on July 1. They honored him by donning his No. 45 jersey. They honored him by inviting his mother, Debbie Hetman, onto the field for the ceremonial first pitch. And they honored him, improbably, with a combined no-hitter, delivered by Taylor Cole and Felix Pena in a 13-0 trouncing of the Seattle Mariners at Angel Stadium.
Angels manager Brad Ausmus called it “one of the most special moments I’ve been a part of on a major league field in 25 years.”
“You feel like it’s partly Skaggsy’s no-hitter,” he said.
By Bobby Ross Jr. My son Keaton is a general reporting intern for The Oklahoman. I was excited to see his story on the national implications of an ongoing trial against opioid manufacturer Johnson & Johnson at the top of Sunday’s front page. Keaton, a 22-year-old journalism major, will be a senior this fall at Oklahoma Christian University, where he will serve as editor-in-chief of the … Continue reading My son Keaton reports: Oklahoma opioid trial has national implications
Growing marriage gap between rich and poor offers ministry opportunities. By Bobby Ross Jr. | For Facts & Trends In the Texas town of Childress, about 22.4 percent of the population lives in poverty — nearly double the national average. Halfway between Amarillo and Wichita Falls, the cattle and cotton-farming hub of 6,000 is the biggest community for 100 miles in any direction. “The closest shopping … Continue reading How churches can bridge the marriage divide
Church of Christ member rose from humble roots to lead nation’s ninth-largest city. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle On the morning after winning election as the next mayor of Dallas, Eric Johnson returned to his roots — the Dallas West Church of Christ. At the congregation where the 43-year-old lawyer and state representative grew up, fellow Christians formed a circle, held hands and … Continue reading Next mayor of Dallas puts faith in ‘good Lord above’ and voters
Widower’s work with Red Cross emergency shelter is ‘an inspiration to many.’ By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle TULSA, Okla. — Oh, Kenneth Hearrell has stories to tell. About how he rode a horse five miles to his two-room schoolhouse from first through fourth grades. About how he used a homemade rowboat to drive cattle to dry land after a big rain swamped the … Continue reading At 87, ‘disaster deacon’ opens his heart — and church — to flooding victims
‘It’s just such a shock,’ says member who frequently conducts business at building where rampage occurred. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle When Eugene Thompson learned of Friday’s mass shooting at a government building in Virginia Beach, Va., he immediately thought: That could have been my son. That could have been me. Thompson, a longtime member of the Princess Anne Church of Christ in that coastal city, owns … Continue reading Virginia mass shooting hits close to home for church member
“And a good story idea is a good story idea, especially when it comes from your mom,” Meyer said.
Amen!
Full disclosure: I love country music. In fact, I wrote a column several years ago exploring country songs as “modern-day parables.” So I was pretty certain I was going to appreciate Meyer’s piece. And I did.
Hundreds of African American Christians gather for preaching, singing and fellowship. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle ST. LOUIS — For 75 years, the National Lectureship of Churches of Christ has brought together Christians from across the U.S. for preaching, singing and fellowship. Hundreds of members of predominantly African American congregations gathered at a hotel near St. Louis’ Gateway Arch for the recent milestone event. … Continue reading Launched during segregation, lectureship celebrates 75 years
Faith. Family. Fastballs. 